Integrated apparatus and method to combine a wireless fence collar with gps tracking capability

ABSTRACT

An integrated apparatus and method is provided for a collar that is configured to operate as part of a wireless fence system that contains and monitors the location of a dog within a containment area defined by the wireless fence system and further configured to provide GPS tracking capability when the dog has escaped from the containment area. As long as the dog remains in the area defined by the wireless fence, the collar operates solely in a wireless fence mode, communicating with the transmitters used as part of the wireless fence system. The GPS tracking function remains “asleep” and is not activated unless and until the dog escapes. Once GPS mode is activated, fence mode is shut down and operation of the GPS enables the dog owner or other individual to receive SMS messages and/or email with information on the dog&#39;s location on a smart-phone, tablet or PC.

This application is based upon provisional application, U.S. Ser. No.61/788,559, filed Mar. 15, 2013, and hereby claims the priority thereofto which this application is entitled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to the field of animal control andcontainment and, more particularly, to a dog collar that is configuredto both operate with a wireless fence system to contain a dog andprovide GPS tracking capability when the dog has escaped from the areadefined by the wireless fence system.

Description of the Related Art

GPS tracking systems are used in connection with a variety of equipmentincluding telephones, motor vehicles, wireless radio systems, etc. Dogcollars that emit an RF signal are also available and are used with ahandheld device that tracks the location of the dog that is wearing thecollar using GPS coordinates. However, these wireless fence systems andGPS tracking devices operate as separate systems and are not integratedas they serve different purposes.

Hence, there is a need for an integrated apparatus and method whichincorporates GPS tracking capability within a collar that is configuredto operate as part of a wireless fence system for the containment andtracking of an animal wearing the collar, such as a dog and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention is directed to a collarconfigured to operate within a wireless fence system to contain a dogand further configured to provide GPS tracking capability when the doghas escaped from the area defined by the wireless fence system. As longas the dog remains in the area defined by the wireless fence, the collaroperates solely in cooperation with the wireless transmitters used aspart of the wireless fence system. The GPS tracking function remains“asleep” and is not activated unless and until the dog escapes. Onceactivated, operation of the GPS enables the dog owner or otherindividual to locate the dog with a GPS receiver that is configured forcommunication with the collar.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anintegrated apparatus and method of operation for a dog collar thatprovides the user with both a containment function and a GPS locatingfunction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integratedapparatus and method of operation for a dog collar in accordance withthe preceding object that includes two separate printed circuit boards(PCBs), one for operation with a wireless fence system and the other forGPS operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an integratedapparatus and method of operation for a dog collar in accordance withthe preceding objects in which each PCB is powered by its own battery sothat the collar includes one battery utilized exclusively for fenceoperation and a second battery that is held in reserve for the GPSoperation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anintegrated apparatus and method of operation for a dog collar inaccordance with the preceding objects in which the collar's wirelessfence containment function is shut down when GPS operation is poweredup.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an integratedapparatus and method of operation for a dog collar in accordance withthe preceding objects that uses cell phone technology in conjunctionwith the GPS to track the dog's location and send SMS messages and/oremail with information on the dog's location to a user's smart-phone,tablet, PC or other suitable device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide anintegrated apparatus and method of operation for a dog collar inaccordance with the preceding objects that uses a mapping service todisplay the dog's location.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an integratedapparatus and method of operation for a dog collar that is not complexin structure and which can be manufactured at low cost but yetefficiently combines both fence containment and GPS tracking,capabilities.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a house with multiple transmitter units that are used totrack the location of a dog within a wireless fence system and thesurrounding GPS zone.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the control unit with two PCBsin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows the GPS module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the operation of an integrated apparatus andmethod of operation for a collar that has both wireless fencecontainment and GPS location modes in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows the GPS tracking capability of the collar of the presentinvention as integrated with the cellular network and Internetinfrastructure that supports locating and reporting of the dog'slocation using SMS messages and/or email to a smart device.

FIG. 7 is an assembled view of a collar according to the presentinvention from the outer side.

FIG. 8A is an inner perspective view of the assembled collar shown inFIGS. 7 and 8A.

FIG. 8B is an outer perspective view of the assembled collar shown inFIGS. 7 and 8A.

FIG. 9A is an inner perspective view of the collar components shown inFIGS. 7, 8A and 8B without the strap that is used to secure the collararound the dog's neck.

FIG. 9B is an outer perspective view of the collar components shown inFIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the collar components fromthe angle shown in FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained indetail, it is to be understood that the embodiment is given by way ofillustration only. It is not intended that the invention be limited inits scope to the details of construction and arrangement of componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology willbe resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that eachspecific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in asimilar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is directed to a collargenerally designated by reference numeral 10 that is operative within awireless fence system, generally designated by reference numeral 12. Thewireless fence system 12 is surrounded by the GPS zone. The GPS zonerepresents virtually the entire geographic area outside the containmentarea 22 defined by the fence 16 of the wireless fence system 12.

The wireless fence system includes at least one transmitter 20, andpreferably a plurality of transmitters 20, positioned within a house 18or other building which serves as a base. The transmitters 20 track thelocation of the collar and the dog wearing the collar) within thecontainment area 22. In the embodiment shown, four transmitters areused. A full description of a wireless fence system compatible with thepresent invention is set forth in U.S. Publ. No. 2011/0298615 (“the '615publication”), the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth herein in its entirety.

The '615 publication, as incorporated by reference herein, also providesa description of a collar that could be modified to include the GPScapability of the instant invention.

In addition to the features set forth in the collar described in the'615 publication, the collar according to the present invention includestwo separate printed circuit boards (PCBs) as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.Each PCB is powered by its own battery 45 so that the collar includesone battery utilized exclusively for fence operation, i.e., “fencemode”, and a second battery that is held in reserve for the GPSoperation, i.e., “GPS mode” (see FIG. 10). The printed circuit boardsinclude a fence mode PCB 30 for operation with the wireless fence system12 and a GPS mode PCB 32 for GPS tracking operation in the GPS zone 14.A power connector 31 is located on the fence mode PCB 30. The fence modePCB 30 and the GPS mode PCB 32 are operatively connected to one anotherwith an inter-PCB connector 33.

The collar operates in fence mode as long as the dog remains within thecontainment area 22. As discussed herein, “fence mode PCB” and “fencemodule” are often used interchangeably. However, the fence moduletechnically includes the fence mode PCB 30, antennas 44, a battery pack40 or 42 with battery power source 45, and collar electrodes 43 (seeFIGS. 7-10).

Should the dog escape the area 22, the fence mode PCB 30 powers up theGPS mode PCB 32 for GPS mode operation as will be discussed more fullyhereinafter. The GPS mode PCB 32 is part of a GPS module generallydesignated by reference numeral 48 that includes the PCB 32 and anexternal antenna 46, as shown in FIG. 4. The GPS module 48 also includesa battery pack 40 or 42 with battery power source 45. In the embodimentshown, the PCB 32 utilizes a wireless radio with an integral GPSreceiver (not shown). Mounting of the antenna 46 external to theenclosure 33 containing the PCB 32 ensures good communication capabilityand also provides adequate distance between the PCB and the antenna toavoid interference.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the collar is first activated bythe user in fence mode and used to contain the dog within thecontainment area 22 defined by the fence 16, step 200. When the fencemodule 30 is active and the collar is operating in fence mode, the GPSmodule 48 is inactive and the transmitters of the wireless fence systemoperate with the collar to track the dog's location within thecontainment area 22, step 202. As long as the dog remains within thecontainment area 22, i.e., has not escaped, step 204, the collarcontinues to operate in fence mode, step 208. If the dog escapes thecontainment area, step 204, the GPS module is powered up, step 106, andthe fence module shuts down.

Once the GPS module has been powered up, step 206, the user tracks thedog/collar in the GPS zone outside the containment area, step 210. Aslong as the dog is loose and has not been caught, step 212, the collarremains in GPS mode to track the dog's location, step 210. Once the dogis caught and returned to the containment area, the collar reactivatesthe fence module and reverts to fence mode operation, step 214.

When in GPS mode, the GPS module 48 in the dog collar uses cell phonetechnology in conjunction with the GPS to track the dog's location anddisplay it in nearly real time on a smart device 24 such as a computer,tablet, cell phone, etc. that is used by the user 26 to see the dog'slocation as determined using GPS coordinates as is known to thoseskilled in the art. The cell phone technology may be CDMA, GSM or thelike. Display of the dog's location may be effected using a commercialmapping service such as a version of Google Maps or similar mappingapplication known to those skilled in the art.

The collar is configured to activate the GPS module and switch fromfence mode operation to GPS mode operation under certain circumstances,one of which is a boundary breach. According to one embodiment, a“breach” signal is generated when the dog goes outside of or breachesthe fence boundary. The breach signal initiates a timer in the fenceoperation firmware that defines a boundary breach timeout. The boundarybreach timeout can be set for any desired time period, such as 30seconds, for example. During the timeout period, the collar firstadministers an audible signal that lasts from between about two and sixseconds, and preferably between about two and three seconds, followed aseries of repetitive pulse correction signals delivered by the collarelectrodes 43. These signals are intended to cause the dog to return tothe containment area. The signal sequence may be repeated one or moretimes until the timeout timer expires.

If the dog returns to the containment area 22 before the boundary breachtimeout expires, the collar resets and resumes normal wireless fencemode operation using the fence module. If the dog does not return to thecontainment area before the timeout expires, however, expiration of thetimeout causes the fence mode PCB 30 to wake up the GPS mode PCB 32 inthe GPS module, activating the GPS circuitry to begin tracking the dog'slocation. The collar will not reset to fence mode operation until afterthe dog has returned to the containment area.

When the GPS module has determined that the position of the dog is at orbeyond a set distance from the containment area, the GPS mode PCB sendsa “sleep request” signal to the fence mode PCB. The fence mode PCB, ifno longer in communication with the transmitters of the wireless fencesystem, will act on the “sleep request” signal and enter a deep sleepstate to conserve battery power. The collar's operation in wirelessfence mode is thus suspended while the collar operates in GPS mode. Asimilar battery-conserving sleep state may be initiated when the dog isinactive in order to conserve battery power; in deep sleep mode, themicroprocessor is still powered on, but at a very low level.

GPS tracking mode operation will continue as long as the dog remainsoutside of the containment area 22. If/when the dog's location isdetermined by the GPS module to be within a set distance from thecontainment area, the GPS mode PCB 32 will deactivate the “sleeprequest” signal. Upon deactivation of the “sleep request” signal, thefence mode PCB 30 wakes up and attempts to reestablish communicationswith the transmitters of the wireless fence system. The GPS modulecontinues operating in GPS mode until the dog has returned to a locationinside the containment area, as determined by the fence mode PCB throughthe reestablishment of communication with the transmitters of thewireless fence system. Once the dog's location within the containmentarea has been identified by the fence module, the fence mode PCB 30shuts down the GPS module and resumes normal wireless fence modeoperation. Hence, the GPS module 48 is not active when the dog is insidethe fence boundary.

In addition to activation upon boundary breach, the GPS module is alsoactivated when the collar fails to receive a specified number of“polling” packets from the base transmitter of the wireless fencesystem, or fails to receive a polling packet for a predetermined timeperiod, indicating a loss of communication with the base. When activatedas a result of communication loss, the GPS module operates in a mannerthat is functionally equivalent to that induced by a boundary breachtimeout as described above.

FIG. 6 depict the infrastructure that supports the GPS dog trackingcapability of the present invention. Upon activation, the GPS module 48periodically transmits data on the dog's location using Short MessageService (SMS) massages. The SMS messages 50 from the dog collar 10 arerelayed via a cell phone network 52 to a SMS gateway 54. The messages 50include GPS coordinates 51 provided to the collar 10 by a GPS satellite62. Once the SMS message 50 is on the cell phone network 52, the messageis routed to the Internet 56 using the SMS gateway 54. A third partyservice provider is typically relied upon for the SMS gateway 54 becausethe gateway requires access to the cellular network 52.

The SMS gateway 54 converts the SMS message 50 to a HTTP request 58 andforwards it to the web server 60. The web server 60 receives HTTPrequests containing GPS coordinates and other pertinent data from thecollar 10. The data received from the collar is stored in a database 64on the server and provided to the user 26 via a web gateway 66.Alternatively, SMS messages containing dog location status informationmay be received by the user directly from the collar, i.e., withoutgoing through the Internet, using the cellular network to transmit thesignal.

When the user 26 logs onto the web server 60 to view the dog's location,the data held in the database 64 is retrieved. The web server 60communicates with the user via SMS messages and/or email. According toone embodiment, a request is sent to a mapping service 68 such asGoogle, Bing, Yahoo and Mapquest, among others, to obtain an image thatincludes the dog's current location. This image is combined with aseries of points to indicate the trail the dog has recently followed,along with status information and is displayed on the web browser of theowner's mobile device 24. Use of a mapping service 68 with images is notrequired, but is preferred for presentation clarity of the dog locationinformation.

As is known in the art, SMS is a text messaging service component ofphone, web and/or mobile communications systems, and uses standardizedcommunications protocols to allow fixed line or mobile phone devices toexchange short text messages. The term “SMS” is used herein for both theuser activity and all types of short text messaging in many parts of theworld. Though most SMS messages are mobile-to-mobile text messages,support for the SMS message service has expanded to include other mobiletechnologies, with further expansion likely as new services aredeveloped. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the presentinvention is intended to include all current and future messagingtechnologies.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate one version of the collar used within theapparatus and method of the present invention to provide both wirelessfence containment and GPS location capabilities. As shown, the collarincludes a strap 36, a control unit 38, two battery cases 40, 42 andantennas 44. Antennas 44 communicate with the transmitters 20 when thefence mode PCB 30 is active during wireless fence mode operation of thecollar. Antenna 46 is part of the GPS module 48 as already describedherein.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an integrated apparatus andmethod for containing and tracking a dog's location using a collar thatprovides two functionalities, the first enabling the user to locate thedog within the containment area of a wireless fence system, and thesecond allowing the user to find the dog using GPS technology should thedog escape the containment area.

The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered asillustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention maybe configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by thedimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of thepresent invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art.Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specificexamples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A dog collar having a strap and a housing held by the strapcomprising: a fence module configured to wirelessly communicate with atleast one transmitter within a wireless fence dog containment system totrack a dog's location within a containment area defined by a wirelessfence; a GPS module configured to wirelessly transmit dog location datafrom the collar to a first device to provide remote dog locationtracking capability at said first device; said fence module beingoperationally active and said GPS module being inactive as long as thedog remains within the containment area so that the collar operates in awireless fence mode, said fence module being configured to power up theGPS module upon detecting that the dog is no longer in the containmentarea so that the collar operates in a GPS mode. 2-22. (canceled)